Jolly Old St. Nicholas is a Christmas song. Its authorship is often credited to Wilf Carter. However, since the song is mentioned in earlier works (such as Susan Gregg's Christmas Orphans, pub. 1916), this attribution is unlikely. The song has also been credited to Benjamin Hanby, author of "Up on the House Top", at some point in the 1860s, although this too may be in dispute. The song is traditionally performed to an up-tempo arrangement of Johann Pachelbel's "Canon in D Major".
Lyrics
- Jolly Old Saint Nicholas,
- Lean your ear this way.
- Don't you tell a single soul
- What I'm going to say.
- Christmas Eve is coming soon.
- Now you dear old man,
- Whisper what you'll bring to me.
- Tell me if you can.
- When the clock is striking twelve,
- When I'm fast asleep,
- Down the chimney broad and black
- With your pack you'll creep.
- All the stockings you will find
- Hanging in a row.
- Mine will be the shortest one;
- You'll be sure to know.
- Johnny wants a pair of skates;
- Susy wants a dolly;
- Nellie wants a story book--
- She thinks dolls are folly.
- As for me, my little brain
- Isn't very bright;
- Choose for me, old Santa Claus,
- What you think is right.